Just Down the Road
I heard a questioned asked by someone, and it made me think. They asked, “Let’s say there’s a person in a far away country who never had an opportunity to hear about Jesus? Will that person still get to heaven?” We’ve perhaps all heard this asked before, but the thoughts that entered my mind were different this time. A completely different question came to mind so read on to find out what that was.
First, let me begin with a story. There once was a man who knew Jesus. He’d not only been raised in the church, but was now serving on the mission field. One day, he felt a nudge to go to the village just down the road of which he’d heard much about. The reports weren’t good. The people lived lives of debauchery. That which had been wrong was now looked upon as right.
That which had been forbidden, was lavishly up for grabs. Not only did this village boast in the wrongs but they persecuted those who thought otherwise.
The man knew what he’d be walking into if he went. Not only did he know, but he knew himself well enough to know of his inability to go too far out of his comfort zone. Just for today he decided to put it off.
The following week, the nudge to go returned. However, this time it was easier to dismiss. And so it went until the nudge to “go” was no longer even a faint memory.
In the meantime, in the village just down the road, a small boy became lost. Yes, spiritually speaking we could say, but that was no different than the other villagers so who knew? No this kind of lost was physical. They could not find him. Search and rescue did not ensue because after all, life really didn’t matter and what was one more little boy?
One day, back at the missionary’s home, a small boy arrived knocking at his door. As the missionary opened it, he saw the distraught child and took him in. Several weeks passed and still nobody claimed the child. Thus, he remained. The small boy grew and began to ask questions as he was hungry and thirsty for the kind of spiritual food the missionary had knowledge of.
As he grew in his faith, the young man longed to go back from where he’d come and tell his people about the spiritual things he had learned of. The problem was, he did not know where his village was nor where he was from. Eventually, he, too, became a missionary and one day felt a nudge to go visit the village just down the road of which he’d heard so much about. Apparently, the people lived lives of debauchery. That which had once been wrong was now looked upon as right. That which had been forbidden, was lavishly up for grabs. Not only did this village boast in the wrongs but they persecuted those who thought otherwise. And because the young missionary had heard so much, he knew he must go to the village just down the road and tell them of things he’d learned.
Now I ask you: Let’s say there’s a person in a far away country who has never heard about Jesus because nobody went who had been sent. Who will and who won’t get into heaven? The man who never heard? Or the man who never went?
We know not the confession of hearts—lest we point fingers, but the next time you are nudged to “Go, make disciples…” (Matt. 28:19-29), you might want to think about it. After all, obedience is our business and the fruit all His.
Do you remember where the village was located? It was located just down the road. If you really don’t want to take a gander just down the road, I suggest you might be on the lookout for someone knocking at your door. Amen.
